Protesters all over the United States and beyond are celebrating a decision made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Sunday.

This Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that they will not grant easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline and would instead “explore alternate routes”.

Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Army’s assistant secretary for civil works believes that the best way to responsibly complete the work done with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline.

In a statement, the Army announced that they will not approve the construction permits on the $3.7 billion project.

Protesters gathered at Standing Rock, including 2,000 U.S. military veterans, all joined in celebration.

Prior to this decision, federal officials had given protestors until Monday to leave the protest site.

U.S. Secretary for the Interior Sally Jewell said in a statement that the decision “ensures that there will be an in-depth evaluation of alternative routes for the pipeline and a closer look at potential impacts” and “underscores that tribal rights reserved in treaties and federal law, as well as Nation-to-Nation consultation with tribal leaders, are essential components of the analysis to be undertaken in the environmental impact statement going forward,” the Washington Post reports.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said, “We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of Indian Country will be forever grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision.”

“We want to thank everyone who played a role in advocating for this cause. We thank the tribal youth who initiated this movement. We thank the millions of people around the globe who expressed support for our cause. We thank the thousands of people who came to the camps to support us, and the tens of thousands who donated time, talent, and money to our efforts to stand against this pipeline in the name of protecting our water. We especially thank all of the other tribal nations and jurisdictions who stood in solidarity with us, and we stand ready to stand with you if and when your people are in need.”

This is a huge step in the right direction not only for tribal members, but for all American people fighting for humanitarian causes.

Ariana Marisol is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She graduated The Evergreen State College with an undergraduate degree focusing on Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.